29 May 2014

{Cape Town}: Luxury Apartments + Waterfront Favorites

If you've been following this blog for any amount of time you probably already know that I have a soft spot for Cape Town.  The city was my very first introduction to South Africa and it also happens to be where I met my handsome soon-to-be husband.  Since said husband-to-be's parents live near Cape Town, along with many of our closest friends, we tend to find ourselves in that part of the country a lot.  Especially when you're at the age where everyone and their mother seems to be getting married.  But, I digress.

Any weekend spent in Cape Town is a good one in my books.

Things to Do in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Since Cape Town feels like a second home, we've developed a terrible habit of forgetting to play tourist when we visit.  As we drive past the yachts that line the V&A Waterfront or gaze at the cable cars on their way up Table Mountain, we always promise that we'll set aside a day or two to enjoy all that the city has to offer, but somehow time manages to slip away and before I know it we're back on a plane bound for Jo'burg.

...Which is precisely why I jumped at the opportunity to partner with Lawhill Luxury Apartments on our last trip into the Mother City.  Ideally situated in the waterfront, our weekend escape was filled with beautiful marina views, copious amounts of good food {with the poundage to prove it} and lazy evening walks along the harbor.  And while I can travel on a budget like a champ, living the high life never felt so good.

The entire weekend was like one long, wonderful dream that I didn't want to end.


Perfect location aside, one of my favorite things about our apartment was that it offered an upmarket self-catering option, meaning that we were able to save on smaller meals and then splurge on dinner in the evenings.  We stopped at the market on our first morning in Cape Town and then made ourselves breakfast and lunch at the flat throughout the rest of our stay.  Even if we had wanted to pay the exorbitant restaurant prices that Cape Town's Waterfront is known for, we would't have been able to find a better view than the one we had from our own balcony.

And when we did venture out in the evenings, we were able to walk.

In fact, I don't think we drove anywhere once during our stay.
There's simply too much to do and see within walking distance.  

Coupled with fantastic service {and I really mean world class}, magazine-worthy decor, a shower that feels like heaven, a bed that invokes involuntary urges to hibernate, and a balcony view that resembles a painting - I really can't imagine a better way to experience the V&A Waterfront.

And, with Cape Town having just been named the top travel destination for 2014 by the New York Times, there's really no better time to visit than the present.  Hint, hint.


Should you decide to book a plane ticket, here are a few of our Waterfront favorites:

Sevruga, which is one of our all-time favorite restaurants.
{Their sushi and dim sum are 1/2 price daily between 12:00 & 6:00pm}
Life Grand Cafe, for sunset tapas and drinks {a bit on the pricey side for dinner}
Willoughby & Co, for the best sushi in South Africa {seriously!}
The Grand Beach Cafe, for vibe, cocktails, and an amazing view
Quay Four, for good old fashioned fish and chips
Market on the Wharf, for trendy food stalls with a South African flair
Two Oceans Aquarium, for penguins, sea turtles, and everything else under the sea
The Yard in the Silo District, for incredible coffee, cocktails, tapas and indian food
The Spa at the Silo Hotel, for a good dose of pampering
The Zeitz MOCAA, for beautiful architecture and contemporary African art 

And while we're raving about South Africa, here's a link to a video that captures so much of what I love about this adopted country of mine. Goose-bump worthy!



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A huge thanks to Lawhill Luxury Apartments for hosting us during our stay!  
As always, all opinions are my own.

07 May 2014

{Greece}: The Island of Milos

Truth be told, Milos just sort of fell into our laps.  We knew we wanted to visit Sifnos and Milos happened to be situated along the same ferry route.  Then, I read somewhere that Milos is often likened to what Santorini was twenty years ago; all the beauty, but a fraction of the crowds. And with that, I booked us into an adorable seaside villa in Pollonia and our Greek Island itinerary was complete. 

It was all pretty impulsive, really.


During our stay in Athens, a number of locals expressed genuine curiosity in our choice of islands. "What made you decide on Milos and Sifnos?", they'd ask with a perplexed look on their face, followed by, "I think you made a really good decision."  In terms of Milos, Athenians consistently agreed that the island was home to the country's best beaches… 

... A secret they hoped to keep hidden from the lure of tourism for as long as possible.

After a few short days of beach hopping on the back of a scooter {and one near death experience… side-eye Jurgen…}, we had to concur with their proposition.  It's hard to even imagine that places like Milos legitimately exist outside the realm of pinterest.  While Milos lacked the intimacy and charm of Sifnos, it's beaches were absolutely breathtaking in a "pinch me this can't be real" sort of way.  If you're into hidden coves, waveless oceans, volcanic rock outlays, never ending cave systems and Greek fishing villages, Milos is your place.

On that note, here are just a few Milos beaches that get a two thumbs up from us…

Sarakiniko

The resounding favorite of the Greeks and one of our favorites too.  The surrounding outlays are composed of white volcanic rock giving the whole area a 'lunar' feel and the water is virtually waveless.  There's also a ton of unmarked caves in the area rumoured to have once been frequented by pirates.


Fyriplaka

Fyriplaka easily wins the award for the most perfectly turquoise water and the beach is also equipped with loungers, waiters and a functioning bar.  We arrived mid-afternoon and had to scavenge around a bit before finding an open umbrella so plan to arrive early.  You can also rent snorkel equipment here.


Tsigrado

Tsigrado takes the cake as the most idyllic beach I've ever set foot on.  Better yet, it's so hidden away that Jurgen and I were the only ones there.  We really and truly had our own private beach for a couple of short hours.  Be warned though, it's a bit tricky to get there and the trek down requires the use of ropes and a ladder.  Without singling anyone out, I'll admit that one of us broke down in tears at one point.  Fine, it was me.  But, once my feet were safely on the sand I could easily agree that the trauma was well worth it.
Tsigrado is officially a little piece of heaven on earth.


Fyropotamos 

Fyropotamos is ridiculously photogenic and epitomises what I think of when I think quintessential Greek fishing village.  While we didn't make it to the beach, we did spend a good hour or so on the pier soaking in the scene in front of us and wondering how one would hypothetically go about purchasing a seaside property in the area.  Apparently, a handful of fisherman still live here permanently.  Lucky fish.


Milos Catacombs

Ok, so this isn't a beach, but it is really fascinating and definitely worth a visit.  The catacombs date back to between the 1st and 5th century and may be even older than the catacombs of Rome.  It's thought that some of the earliest Christians used these catacombs not only as a place to bury their dead, but also as a safe haven for worship in an effort to avoid widespread persecution.  The catacombs are open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 - 2:00 and tickets are €3.  This was easily one of the highlights of our entire time in Greece.


By the numbers:

We stayed at Tania Milos in Pollonia {and loved it} for 110 euros per night.
The most delicious homemade breakfast spread was included in the above rate.
We ate plenty of pastitsio, seafood pasta and greek salads.  A typical meal cost between 10 & 15 euros.
Oh, and the nutella waffle bites at Aggeliki in Adamas were heaven on a plate.
We got around on the back of a scooter at a cost of 15 euros per day.
Our Milos highlight? Sunset on the beach at Tsigrado.
Our Milos "must-see"? The catacombs in Trypiti.


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08 April 2014

Postcards from Clarens

Hello my dear friends!  It's been awhile.  Life has been busy, but good, in a productive sort of way.  I'm finding it hard to believe that we're already well into the fourth month of the year, meaning that I'm also well into the fourth month of my internship... and that the wedding (!!!) is officially less than six months away. But, I suppose that's a topic for another post.

Today I wanted to share one of my very favorite places with you, Clarens.


Nestled right against the foothills of Lesotho, Clarens is one of the towns in South Africa that Jurgen and I find ourselves going back to the most.  When we visit, we usually don't have an agenda in mind and tend to fill our days with cafes and books and cappuccinos and art galleries and chess games and leisurely jogs along the river.  It's the perfect place to be blissfully carefree and lazy.


Despite having been to Clarens more times than I can count on one hand, prior to our most recent visit, we've had fairly mediocre experiences with accommodation in the area.  On our first trip, our bathroom lacked a door... which is a pretty big deal when one of you happens to come down with the stomach bug of the century (hint... it was me).  On another occasion our shower was the equivalent of a trickle.  And on yet another occasion we accidentally rented a house that turned out not to be in Clarens at all (oops). 

So, on our last visit we decided to play it safe and book ourselves into the Protea Hotel Clarens, a boutique hotel located along the main street as you drive into town.  And I'm so glad we did.  For starters, our bathroom had a door, our shower was blissful and we were within easy walking distance of town.  Our room was also comfy and cozy and offered amazing views of the surrounding mountains.  The staff were helpful and the lounge area had a fireplace, making it the perfect place to cuddle up with a warm drink and a good book in the evenings.  Topped off with a superb (and reasonably priced) menu, I don't think we'll be staying anywhere else in future.  If you're ever in the area, PH Clarens comes highly recommended par moi. 


 As for Clarens itself, the town has sort of evolved into an aspiring artist's haven and art galleries pervade its every nook and cranny.  There's no shortage of quaint little cafes, and micro breweries are starting to pop up here, there and everywhere.  Hiking trails line the surrounding hills and a quiet river runs through the edge of town.  The breathtakingly beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park is only a few kilometers away.

Just a four hour drive from the hustle and bustle of Jo'burg, over the past several years Clarens has undoubtedly become our favorite weekend getaway.  Two or three days of breathing its clean air and I feel recharged and ready to take on the madness of day to day city life again.  I think a large part of its charm comes from the fact that tourism hasn't discovered it yet.  For the time being, it remains untouched, uncrowded and authentic.

Which is just how I prefer it.  

If you happen to visit Clarens, here are a few of our favorites:

On our last visit, we stayed at the Protea Hotel Clarens for R950 ($95) per night, and loved it.
Daily breakfast and free wifi were included in the above rate.
 Our favorite eats are the Roter Hahn278 on Main, and Artist's Cafe.
{The schnitzels, meat salad, and cherry beer at the Roter Hahn are not to be missed}
For adventure seekers, the abseiling is a blast.  See here for our experience.
Our Clarens must-see? Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
And, if you happen to be looking for wedding venues, we loved The Gourmet Shed & Andes Clarens Guesthouse.

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Also, you've probably noticed that A Home Away From Home has a new look!  Melyssa from Bumble & Buzz Design has been working with me on this over the past couple of months and I couldn't be happier with the end result.  She was able to take my vague and incomplete ideas and transform them into exactly what I'd been looking for all along.  I can't recommend her enough.  She's amazing.

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